How life has changed in Lambeth

Lambeth's population increased by about 36,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 300,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Lambeth increased by 13.9%, from just over 266,000 to 303,000.

The addition of almost 37,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Lambeth was home to, on average, 81 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Lambeth

Latest census data also show that the median age of Lambeth remained 31 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a lower average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 12,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by just under 600.

About 15.0% of people in Lambeth are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Lambeth by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Lambeth

In 2011, 7.6% of Lambeth residents said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 4.8% in 2001. The 2.8 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across London, the percentage of people from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 3.2% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 1.3% to 2.3%.

Around 57.1% of people in Lambeth said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 62.4% in 2001. About 25.9% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 25.8% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 5.8% to 6.9%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) in Lambeth increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Lambeth by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Lambeth that rented privately increased from 19.8% to 29.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (35.1%) households lived in social housing, compared with 40.9% in 2001. The percentage of Lambeth households that owned their home decreased from 36.8% to 33.0%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 15.3% in 2001 to 25.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Lambeth increased by 9.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Lambeth, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Lambeth

The percentage of Lambeth residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.2% to 2.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.3%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.7% in 2001. The percentage of Lambeth residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 93.2%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Lambeth

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Lambeth, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 6.3 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 30.7% of respondents in Lambeth said they had no religion, up from 24.4% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.3% to 22.7%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 58.2% of respondents in Lambeth said they were Christian, down from 66.0% in 2001. About 7.8% said they were Muslim, up from 6.1% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Lambeth increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Lambeth by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Lambeth residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.2% to 4.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (85.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.6% in 2001. The percentage of Lambeth residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.2% to 10.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Lambeth decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Lambeth, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Lambeth residents that were self-employed increased from 8.6% to 11.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55.9%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53.0% in 2001. The percentage of Lambeth residents that were unemployed decreased from 6.1% to 6.0%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 9.0% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Lambeth increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Lambeth, London and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Lambeth, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.5% to 10.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.4%) households had only one person, compared with 37.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Lambeth which comprised a married couple (with or without children) remained close to 18.0%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.1% in 2001 to 8.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across London

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Lambeth

The percentage of married people fell in Lambeth, while rising in Hammersmith and Fulham (one of the most statistically similar areas to Lambeth based on ONS area classifications).

In Lambeth, the proportion came down from 28.3% in 2001 to 27.0% in 2011, while across England it went up from 29.0% to 30.1%. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 41.7% to 40.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Lambeth increased from 55.8% to 58.4%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner remained close to 11.1%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Lambeth without children decreased from 67.1% to 66.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.8%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Lambeth with only adult children living with their parents increased from 6.6% to 6.9%.

The proportion of households without children fell at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 62.4% in 2001 to 59.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Lambeth working less than 16 hours increased from 1.9% to 2.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Lambeth residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.3%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Lambeth remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Lambeth by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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